Aggies, Cowboys Set to Tangle in TaxAct Texas Bowl

Wednesday, December 27

Houston, Texas

8:00 PM

Texas A&M

Oklahoma State

Tickets

Dec 26, 2023 | Football

Watch Live Listen Live Live Stats

By: Athletics Communications

Texas A&M wraps the 2023 campaign on Wednesday night when the Aggies face former Big 12 rival Oklahoma State in the TaxAct Texas Bowl inside Houston's NRG Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. on ESPN.

GAMEDAY: OKLAHOMA STATE

Wednesday, December 27 • 8:05 p.m. CT
2023 TaxAct Texas Bowl
NRG Stadium • Houston
Live Stats: Click Here

THE MATCHUP

Texas A&M: 7-5, 4-4 SEC
Last: lost at #14 LSU, 42-30
Game Notes: Click Here
Oklahoma State: 9-4, 7-3 Big 12
Last: lost to #7 Texas, 49-21
Game Notes: Click Here

RANKINGS

Texas A&M: NR
OSU: 22 (AP), 21 (Coaches)

WATCH

TV: ESPN
Play-by-Play: Roy Philpott
Analyst: Roddy Jones
Sidelines: Taylor McGregor

LISTEN

Radio: Texas A&M Sports Network
1620 AM/94.5 FM (local), SiriusXM 190
Play-by-Play: Andrew Monaco
Analyst: Dave Elmendorf
Sidelines: Will Johnson
Listen Live: 12th Man Mobile App

Spanish Broadcast: Click Here
102.7 FM (local)
Play-by-Play: Michel Gonzalez
Analyst: Pedro Luna
Analyst: Alejandra Dorbecker
Listen Live: 12th Man Mobile App

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

The Aggies are set for their 44th bowl game in program history and their fourth appearance in the Texas Bowl where they boast a 2-1 record.
Texas A&M holds a commanding 18-10 lead in the all-time series with the Cowboys, most recently claiming a 24-21 victory over Oklahoma State in the 2019 Texas Bowl.
Sophomore transfer Jaylen Henderson became the third Aggie QB to start a game this season when he was called to action against Mississippi State ... He accounted for four touchdowns against the Bulldogs and over 200 yards of total offense, and has gone on to throw for over 250 yards in each of his last two starts.
The A&M offense has tallied over 400 yards of total offense in seven of the team’s 12 games this season, most recently tallying 448 yards against ACU, while ranking 17th in the Power 5 and fifth in the league averaging 34.2 points per game.
Junior DL Shemar Turner has been a consistent disruptor on the line this season, recording at least 1.0 tackle for loss in eight of the team’s 12 games ... Turner is tied for 11th in the SEC with 6.0 sacks and 14th with 10.5 TFLs on the year ... Turner has also made impactful contributions on special teams, blocking a field goal attempt at Ole Miss that resulted in an Aggie touchdown and getting his hand on a 49-yard attempt against Mississippi State.
A&M leads the SEC and is tied for third among all Power 5 teams with 96.0 tackles for loss, while also ranking fourth with 43.0 sacks on the year ... The Aggies have tallied 71.0 TFLs and 35.0 sacks through the eight-game SEC slate.
The Aggie defense has shut down opponents on third down this season, ranking 10th in the Power 5 with a 30.3 opponent conversion percentage ... The unit is also sixth in the country allowing just 15.4 first downs per game, while its 66 rushing first downs allowed rank fourth among Power 5 programs.

BOWL HISTORY

The TaxAct Texas Bowl will mark the 43rd bowl game in program history and 44th bowl bid all-time at A&M … the Aggies are 20-22 all-time in bowl games and have won three straight (2018 Gator, 2019 Texas, 2021 Orange).
It will mark the Aggies' first postseason game since a 41-27 win over North Carolina in the Capital One Orange Bowl on January 2, 2021 … A&M qualified for the Gator Bowl following the 2021 season, but had to withdraw due to COVID.
A&M's last appearance in the Texas Bowl was on December 27, 2019, a 24-21 win over Oklahoma State.
Other appearances in the Texas Bowl came in 2011 (def. Northwestern 33-22) and 2016 (lost to Kansas State 33-28).
A&M has two other bowl appearances in the city of Houston, both inside NRG's neighbor, The Astrodome (1977 Bluebonnet Bowl, a 47-28 loss to USC; 2001 Houston Bowl, a 28-9 win over TCU).
The Aggies set a school record with 12 consecutive bowl appearances from 2009-21.

QUICK HITS

Texas A&M sits atop the SEC and ranks seventh in Power 5 in total defense (295.0 y/g), as well as 13th in rush defense (109.7 y/g) ... The Aggies’ pass defense (188.3 y/g) is second in the SEC and 11th in the Power 5.
A&M has given up the fewest rushing touchdowns in the SEC this season as its seven scores allowed on the ground are tied for fourth nationally.
The Aggies have limited the opposition to less than 245 yards of total offense seven times this season and have only allowed an opponent to tally over 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same game twice this year.
Freshman LB Taurean York immediately stepped into a leadership role this season, starting all 12 games at mike linebacker ... He finished the regular season third among SEC freshmen with 66 tackles and leading all league newcomers with 8.5 tackles for loss.
Sophomores Amari Daniels and Le’Veon Moss have split the majority of the carries this season for the Aggies ... Daniels ranks among the top 16 back in the league averaging 46.7 yards per game and 5.3 yards per carry, while Moss’ 53.8 yards per game are good for 15th among SEC backs ... Both rushers are tied with a team-best five touchdowns on the season.
Late in the fourth quarter in the win over ACU, the Aggies utilized a 12th Man Kickoff Team composed of all walk-ons plus the placekicker ... The last time an all-volunteer group covered a kickoff at Kyle Field was Sept. 9, 2006, against Louisiana-Lafayette.
Junior PK Randy Bond is tied for fifth in the Power 5 and second in the SEC averaging 9.6 points per game, while his 115 total points on the year rank seventh across the country ... His 23 made field goals on the season are good for fourth in the Power 5.

MILESTONES TO WATCH FOR

Junior WR Moose Muhammad III is on the cusp of moving into the top 15 of A&M’s all-time career receiving touchdowns list with 10 career scoring receptions.
Freshman LB Taurean York is 1.5 tackles for loss away from tying Dat Nguyen’s (1995) No. 3 freshman TFL total of 7.0, not including sacks, and is six tackles away from passing teammate Demani Richardson’s mark of 71 takedowns in his debut season, entering the bowl game with 66 tackles on the year.
Junior PLK Randy Bond is on the cusp of entering the top 10 on A&M’s all-time field goals made list, just one away from passing Taylor Bertolet (2012-15) in 10th who tallied 37 made field goals in his career.
Bond’s 23 made field goals this season are good for second on A&M’s single-season list as he chases Randy Bullock’s (2011) record of 29 makes in a season ... Bond’s 115 points on the year are good for fourth on the Aggies’ single-season list and he is in need of 11 points to crack the top three.